US helicopters 'downed in error'

A catastrophic series of blunders, all 'human error', led to American jets shooting down two of their own helicopters on a United Nations mission over northern Iraq on 14 April, according to the report released by the US Defense Secretary, William Perry, yesterday writes Christopher Bellamy.

Twenty-six people, including two British officers, were killed. The report now goes to military commanders to determine what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken.